Chapter 25
‘So! It seems like you two are the best of friends,’ Frank said, briefly watching Tomas’s retreating back before swinging his full focus back on to me.
‘We used to be.’ I took a sip of my champagne and idly wondered if it was actual ‘Champagne’ or from their family’s vineyard. I guessed the latter and took another sip. It really was truly excellent.
‘That sounds like a story.’
‘As does the fact you two were acting like ten-year-olds.’ I kept my eyes on him as I took another sip.
‘Touché.’ Throwing a glance over his shoulder, he looked back to me. ‘She’s a little younger than Tomas’s usual dates.’
‘That’s because my daughter is certainly not his date. Right now, she’s not exactly a fan.’
‘Aha, there are two of us then.’
‘She has her reasons and she’s here because I wanted to come and because she’s working.’
‘I saw the press badge. Interesting.’ He took another sip, his eyes never leaving mine. ‘Gabrielle and Tomas are usually super cagey about the media.’
‘Gabby and I are old friends.’
‘Gabby and I used to be friends.’
The penny dropped. ‘Ah.’
‘Yep. I was stupid and Tomas never forgave me.’
‘I take it Gabby has, bearing in mind you’re here.
’ I drained my glass then pointed it at him.
Normally, I wouldn’t have been this intrigued.
Or flirtatious. Was I even being flirtatious?
It felt like it. But then again it had been literally decades since I’d attempted anything remotely in that arena – I actually had no idea! ‘Am I being too nosy?’
Frank laughed, easily and openly. From the corner of my eye, I saw Tomas and Sasha look round. Sash grinned. Tomas scowled.
‘Not at all. It’s refreshing for someone to actually say what they mean rather than talking in riddles. Between you and me,’ he leant in conspiratorially, ‘these kind of things are usually pretty stuffy.’
‘That’s because,’ I said, gesturing with my glass again, ‘I’m not usually at them.’ Oh God, I was flirting. Note to self, do not drink on an empty stomach. Or, actually, maybe do!
‘You know, ma’am. I think you might just be right. Can I get you another drink?’
Inner Sensible Me was frowning. No. I definitely need to find food before any more bubbles.
‘That would be lovely.’ Oops! Inner Me gave a disapproving huff and stomped off.
‘Be right back.’
‘Great.’
Frank moved confidently through the crowd to the small bar that had been set up in the corner and I turned away so as not to make it obvious I had been watching him go. Nice bum. Good shoulders…
‘Kitty?’ Gabby returned to my side, her eyes shining with mischief as she followed my line of sight. ‘I see you’ve met Frank.’
‘I have. Or is it Francis?’
She rolled her eyes. ‘Ooh la la. I didn’t realise he’d already spoken to Tomas.’ She pronounced her brother’s name in the same way Frank had.
‘Oh, yes. That was fun. I sent him off with Sash to give her a tour before they started giving each other wedgies.’
‘Good plan.’
‘So, he says you were friends.’
She did the head-tilt thing. ‘Somewhat more than that. But he fucked it up so now we are not so friendly.’
‘Yes. He said something about being stupid.’
‘Ha! Yes, perhaps he has learned his lesson. Men, as we know, can be highly intelligent yet incredibly stupid at the same time.’
I gave a small huff of agreement. ‘So what’s the discord between them then?’
‘They never hit it off from the start. Tomas didn’t think Frank was right for me.
Said he didn’t trust him.’ She shrugged.
‘Most of the time, it didn’t matter as they didn’t see each other much, although I’d have liked them to be friends, of course.
But then, on one of those occasions, a friend of Frank’s took a shine to my brother and they started dating.
I think he actually really liked her, although trying to get him to admit it, as always, was like getting blood out of a stone.
You probably already noticed that change, eh? ’
I nodded.
‘He always used to be so open until… well.’ She waved her hand. We both knew. ‘Tomas and I had a meeting with a gallery in New York. Rich people don’t always seem to have much of a schedule so they both came with us. Actually, we flew over in Frank’s private jet.’ She widened her eyes in amusement.
‘Ooh, fancy!’
‘I know,’ she said, laughing. ‘Tomas was dying to protest and fly commercial but I told him I’d never speak to him again if he did.’
‘Wow. You really liked this chap then?’
‘It was more that I’d never been on a private jet and I was desperate to!
’ She giggled. ‘Anyway, we got there, and the next day, Tomas and I went off to the meeting. It didn’t really go well.
The commission they wanted was absolutely extortionate and not what we’d initially discussed so it all felt like a huge waste of time. ’
‘Except for the private jet.’
‘Except for the private jet,’ Gabby repeated with a grin. ‘So we headed back to the hotel early. Tomas’s room was a few doors up from mine so he heard the screams and came running back.’
‘Screams?’ I touched her arm, all levity gone.
‘Oh, no, it wasn’t me. It was Tomas’s girlfriend screaming. First at the sight of me walking in on her in bed with my boyfriend. And then as she was trying to avoid the many, many things I was throwing their way.’
‘Wow. So your boyfriend slept with your brother’s girlfriend?’
‘Oui. So terribly French, eh? Except they are both American.’
‘Ooh la la.’
‘Quite!’
‘Now I get why Tomas gave him such a cold look. I’m surprised he’s here though, bearing in mind he cheated on you?’
‘I was angry at the time but I wasn’t in love with him.
I was more upset for Tomas. She was never going to be the love of his life and I think she knew that.
’ At this, she threw me a glance. I looked away.
‘He’s never hidden that from the women he’s met.
That he’s not looking for The One. But he did like her.
However, his fury was purely directed at Frank and the fact he’d cheated on me.
In the end, I had to practically lock him in his room to avoid having to pay for removal of blood from the hotel carpet. ’
‘And I guess you already had to pay for all the things you threw.’
‘Ah, non. The room was booked in Frank’s name so…’ She shrugged one elegant shoulder and winked.
‘Karma.’
‘Exactement,’ she agreed.
‘But I’m still not entirely clear as to why Frank is here tonight.’ I caught sight of him returning. ‘Oh, Lord, he’s coming back.’
‘Much to his and Tomas’s chagrin, Frank collects French artists as investments and also loves Tomas’s style. Art is about the only thing they ever agreed on. Also,’ she whispered as he approached, ‘he is very, very rich!’
‘Gabrielle.’ He handed me my drink as Gabby offered the two-kiss greeting. ‘How lovely to see you.’
‘And you, Frank. We were just talking about you, actually.’
Frank looked from her to me then back again. ‘Yeah, I bet you were.’
The rift between Gabby and Frank seemed, as she had said, to be healed.
Unlike that between the two men. As the three of us continued chatting, Tomas and Sasha, having finished the private tour, now approached.
Frank still being here was clearly not what Tomas had hoped for.
His dark brows drew together, forehead creasing as the blue gaze flicked between Frank and Gabrielle.
‘Ah! Sasha.’ Gabby turned, her arm naturally sliding around Sash’s waist. ‘And what did you think?’ She threw a look at her brother. ‘And be honest. You know these artists and their egos. It doesn’t do them good for everyone to pander to them.’
‘Actually, I thought they were all… incredible.’ The body language between them wasn’t quite as rigid as it had been earlier but I knew my daughter too well to imagine that a few beautiful paintings would be enough to sway her that quickly.
Gabby, on the other hand, she had connected with from their first moment of meeting, just as I had hoped she would.
‘The final one was especially interesting, I thought,’ Sash spoke again, sending a penetrating look my way.
‘Oh?’ Frank asked. ‘Which one is that?’
‘The pretty young woman in the yellow sundress,’ Sasha told him.
Frank was scanning the sleek brochure. ‘Is that what it’s called?’
‘Have you even seen it?’ Tomas asked, his clean-shaven jaw radiating with tension.
‘Not yet. I got caught up chatting to two beautiful women. As much as I love your work, Tomas, much to both our disdain, I’m afraid it can’t beat good conversation with interesting people.’
Tomas picked a glass from a timely passing server, rolling his eyes as he did so. ‘Anyone else? Sasha?’
‘That would be lovely, thank you.’
Tomas handed her the glass, nodding politely in acknowledgement.
‘Oh, is this it?’ Frank looked up from the brochure. ‘Summer’s Bliss.’
‘That’s it,’ Sasha replied when it was clear Tomas wasn’t going to and Gabby was doing a good job of avoiding the question entirely.
‘You recommend that one then?’ he asked, looking at Sasha.
‘For what?’
‘My collection. An investment.’
‘Oh… I’ve… erm… no idea how much it is.’ Her voice was low in reply. This wasn’t a place where – quelle horreur – prices were discussed, or even mentioned.
‘Doesn’t matter.’ He flashed her a grin and my mum spidey sense prickled. As too, it appeared, did Gabby’s very recently acquired auntie spidey sense. Her narrowed eyes locked onto Frank’s face. Tomas got there before both of us, standing just that little bit taller next to my daughter.
‘Don’t even think about it, Francis.’
Frank held out his hands. ‘What?’
‘Why don’t I take you round and you can make your own decision?’ Gabby said, linking her arm through his, steel wrapped in silk. Frank was going, whether he wanted to or not.
‘Summer’s Bliss isn’t for sale,’ Tomas stated as Gabby made to steer Frank away. By the brief look that passed between the siblings, this was new information to her.
‘It’s a special piece,’ his sister seamlessly picked up the thread. ‘It was sold prior to the exhibition.’